After claiming a point against Houston last time, out United came into Saturday's clash looking to extend its unbeaten streak to five matches and goals from Rolfe and defender Bobby Boswell gave United all three points and moved the club into a tie with New England atop the Eastern Conference with 14 points.

But it was the home-standing Whitecaps that opened the scoring after just two minutes when Octavio Rivero sent a cross-field pass to a wide-open Pedro Morales, who cut inside and chipped it over the head of United goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra.

The traveling side found an equalizer, however just seven minutes later when Boswell got on the end of a set-piece delivery from Michael Farfan and nodded it into the bottom left corner, leaving 'Caps goalkeeper David Ousted with no chance for a save.

Things then got worse for Vancouver in first-half stoppage time when midfielder Matias Laba was shown a second yellow card and sent off by referee David Gantar for a poor challenge on United's Fabian Espindola.

United then grabbed the winning tally with 26 minutes to play when Rolfe found himself in the right place at the right time to hammer home a laser-strike on the half-volley from the top of the penalty area.

The 'Caps created a handful of decent scoring chances over the final quarter- hour plus six minutes of added time, but could never find that final pass that led to an equalizer and suffered their second home defeat of the season.